England vs Belgium Predictions, Betting Tips and Preview World Cup Head to Head

England vs Belgium Predictions, Betting Tips and Preview World Cup Head to Head

England complete their Group G campaign at the 2018 World Cup by facing Belgium in their final match on Thursday June 28.
Gareth Southgate’s side, who also meet Tunisia and Belgium in their quest to be among the 16 teams that advance to the knockout stage, will hope to have already qualified and then gain a result against the Belgians that enables them to progress as group winners.

In a warm-up match for Euro 2012, Danny Welbeck scored the only goal in the first half against a Belgian side that had failed to qualify for the tournament in Poland and the Ukraine
– October 10 1999, friendly match, Sunderland
– England 2-1 Belgium

Alan Shearer was usually considered a villain at the Stadium of Light due to his Newcastle affiliation but he was a hero when he put England ahead, with Jamie Redknapp scoring the winner
– May 29 1998, King Hassan II Cup, Casablanca
– England 0-0 Belgium

In a mini-tournament in Morocco before the World Cup, this draw helped England finish as runners-up in the table to France even though they lost on penalties to Belgium
– June 27 1990, World Cup, Bologna
– England 1-0 Belgium (after extra time)

Undoubtedly the most famous England-Belgium match as David Platt’s last-gasp volley in extra time from an inswinging free-kick sent the Three Lions into the quarter-finals of Italia 90
– June 12 1980, European Championship, Turin
– England 1-1 Belgium

The late Ray Wilkins famously beat the offside trap to put England ahead but Jan Ceulemans equalised in this opening group game, with defeat to Italy in their next match knocking the Three Lions out

England vs Belgium match predictions

This is much the hardest test on paper that England will encounter in Group G with Belgium being the odds-on favourites to win the group.
England manager Gareth Southgate admits the Three Lions are up against it but is relishing the prospect of facing a team packed full of Premier League talent.

Belgium are the top seeds, understandably so on the performances they have given over the last couple of years, said Southgate.
But it’s exciting for our team even though we lack some big-match experience and we don’t have, at the moment, trophies and medals on the table for a lot of the lads.
We know it’s probably the best side Belgium have ever had and we know the quality they have. It’s a really good challenge for us.

England vs Belgium predicted line-ups

For England, this will depend entirely on their position in the group, which could mean one of three things – either they have already qualified and are trying to secure top spot, they need a result to progress or, worst-case scenario, they are already eliminated!

It was the last of those four years ago in Brazil and consequently Roy Hodgson gave an opportunity to several players who’d had no or little previous game-time in the tournament, but the likelihood here is that Southgate will need to name his strongest available XI.
Belgium’s side could resemble a Premier League all-star line-up and it may well be something like this: Thibaut Courtois, Thomas Meunier, Toby Alderweireld, Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen, Radja Nainggolan, Axel Witsel, Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens and Romelu Lukaku.

Every time England and Belgium have met in a competition of any sort, which is on four previous occasions, it has ended as a draw and that looks a very feasible outcome again.

It’s difficult to be too confident about how the game will unfold until we know exactly what is at stake but at this stage, under 2.5 goals appeals at Evens with BetBright – and will do so even more if both teams have already qualified.